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Few things to keep in mind before you buy an auto insurance policy

It is wise to purchase an auto insurance policy from before hand in order to secure yourself from unusual mishaps or any emergency situations. When you buy an auto insurance policy for the first time, you may find it little difficult to choose the right insurance policy. But if you search online, you will get information about various auto insurance polices and you can choose one from there which you feel is the best for you.

4 Tips to follow before you purchase an auto insurance policy

This article will help you know 4 tips before you purchase an auto insurance policy.

1. Know your exact needs that you want – You can make a list of all the things that you want in your auto insurance policy before buying it so that you may know your exact needs. You can also decide the amount of money you want to spend in order to insure your car. It is always better to insure your auto from a single auto insurance company if you have more than one auto. This, in turn, will help you get discounts on your insurance policy that you want to purchase.

2. Make your payments by check – You should make your payments by check when you buy an auto insurance policy. There are many reliable companies and licensed agents who do not accept payments that are made by cash in order to avoid any unnecessary harassment. So, it is always better that you make your payments by check in order to make secured payments.

3. Find out the discounts that you may get – There are different auto insurance companies who offer you different kinds of discounts on their policies. But many companies do not give proper information to their customers about the offers and discounts that they may offer you. So, before choosing an auto insurance company it is advisable that you should find out whether or not they can give you discounts such as auto discounts, safe driver discounts on your policy. You may contact the auto insurance company to get more details about the policy that you are willing to purchase.

4. Before purchasing a policy ask all the necessary questions – Before you purchase an auto insurance policy, it is very important that you ask all the necessary questions that may arise in your mind. When you decide to purchase an auto insurance policy, the insurance company sends a representative to you who will clarify all your questions that you have in your mind. As such, you will be able to overcome any unusual problem that you may have on your policy.

It is advisable that you should read the terms and conditions of the auto insurance policy very carefully before you decide to purchase one. This will help you select the most appropriate policy as per your requirement and avoid falling into any usual problems in the near future.

Five Auto Insurance Surprises

Here are five auto insuiurance suprised you should know about.

1) Payback for diminished value
Your insurer will repair your car after it has been in an accident, but let’s face it — it will never be the same. Some insurers will compensate you for that with a “diminished value reimbursement.” It’s only available in 14 states at this point, though, including auto insurance in Florida, Texas, and Virginia — and only if you weren’t at fault in the accident.

2) Good guys finish first
Doing the right thing doesn’t always get rewarded in life, but it can where car insurance is concerned. If you’re a good driver with a clean record, you’ll pay less for car insurance than others. This can make a considerable difference. If you’re a “high-risk” driver laden with tickets and/or accidents, you can expect to pay 10% to 15% more than a good driver on average. If your policy costs you $1,500, that’s an extra $150 to $225 per year.

Having good financial habits can pay off, too. A high credit score can lead to lower insurance rates, among other things. If your score is among the lowest, you may be charged several thousand dollars more than a high-scorer. (This is a good reminder that even if you think your credit rating is high, it’s worth getting a copy of your credit report just to make sure, so that you can correct any errors.)

3) Make and model matters
You probably know that certain cars will be more expensive to insure than others. High-priced cars with steep maintenance fees, or frequently stolen models, will doubtlessly command a premium. It pays to consider this when you’re shopping for your next car.

It’s also a good reason to shop around for the best insurance rate. Even given your particular make, model, and year, insurers can vary widely in the premiums they charge. A few extra phone calls or online quotes could save you several hundred dollars a year.

4) Breakdown insurance
Some insurers (and even some credit unions and other financial firms) now cover repairs to your car. These policies offer benefits beyond your car’s regular warranty; they can pay to fix just about every kind of mechanical problem, not just the drive train or major systems, and the policies apply to work done at a wide variety of shops, not just at a dealer. Older cars with more mileage may not qualify, though.

If this costly coverage seems like more than you can afford, consider another option: Just pretend to buy it. Put the cost of the premiums aside in a special account. Then, if you run into costly repairs, you’ll have some money ready to pay for them. If not, you can keep the money — perhaps to help pay for your next car.

5) Close the gap
Finally, consider buying some “gap insurance” to protect yourself, in the event that what your insurer will pay for your totaled car won’t be enough to pay what you owe on it. Imagine that you take out a car loan to buy a $30,000 vehicle. If it’s totaled later, when it’s only worth $20,000, and you still owe $25,000 on it, you’ll still have to cough up $5,000 beyond what your insurer pays you — in addition to the cost of a new car. That’s where gap insurance can come in handy.

5 Mistakes not to make when getting Auto Insurance

Article by Jack F. Grigorian of LA Car Insurance

Here are 5 mistakes to watch out for when getting a auto insurance.  If you are not careful these can cost you a lot of money down the road.

1- Lying to Your Auto Insurance Company

Make sure you provide your insurance company with accurate information. Drivers often lie about who drives their car, what the car is used for and where it’s parked at night. You may think that fudging the facts in order to get a better rate is OK, but it could put your coverage in jeopardy if your misrepresentations come to light. Quick savings may come back to bite you.

2- Failing to Shop Around for AutoInsurance Quotes

You should review your auto policy every year. Most drivers, however, simply renew their policy without questions, failing to take the time to compare other insurers.

Only about one-third of all policyholders obtained an auto insurance quote in the past 12 months, according to a recent J.D. Power and Associates survey. Almost 70 percent automatically renewed their policy.

To make sure you still have proper coverage at the best price, we recommend you obtain at least three or four quotes when your policy is up for renewal.

3- Not Understanding What You’re Buying
Insurance companies have a reputation for offering products that their customers can’t understand. A recent survey found that insurance companies are at the bottom of its Brand Simplicity Index. In other words: We can’t figure out what we just bought.

Don’t wait until an insurance adjuster has to explain your policy to you after a crash. That only leads to rude surprises. Go over your policy terms and exclusions with your agent.

4- Ignoring Reputation
When you’re shopping around for the best car insurance rates, it’s important to make sure you don’t sacrifice customer service.

While you may pay a lower premium, the insurer could give you unreasonably low damage estimates or force you to pay more for manufacturer replacement parts. Before you buy a policy, investigate the insurance company’s reputation and the details of your policy.

The National Association of Insurance Commissioners’ website provides information on insurer complaint ratios.

5- Buying the Minimum Coverage
Many car owners buy the minimum liability coverage required by law and assume that they have adequate coverage. Unfortunately, in some situations, that’s not enough.

Christie Hyde, spokesperson for the American Automobile Association, recommends that you develop a good understanding of your assets and your financial risk in the event you became involved in a serious accident. If you have assets to protect, you should make sure your liability limits reflect what you’ve got to lose.

If you hit a high-end vehicle, the minimum coverage will not cover the cost of a new one.

Stephanie Sheppard, spokesperson for Allstate Insurance, says many consumers believe that they can save money by increasing their deductibles. While that is true, it becomes a problem if you can’t afford to pay your deductible after an accident.

Policy holders also drop collision and comprehensive coverage for older vehicles. But if you can’t afford to pay for costly repairs or buy a new car, it may be more prudent to buy the coverage. In an effort to save money, consumers may cut corners in areas that help protect them and their families and cut put them at risk financially.